Detachable electric-wire-holding device



(No Model.)

G. BEARD. DETAGHABLE ELECTRIC WIRE HOLDING DEVICE.

Patented Jan. so, 1894.

C(jfrwgses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS BEARD, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DETACHABLE ELECT RIC-WI RE-HOLDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,630, dated January 30, 1894.

Application filed October 20, 1893. Serial No. 488,725. (No model.)

T0 (6% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS BEARD, of Brookline, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Detachable Electric-Tire-Holding Devices. of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings rcpresenting like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient detachable electric-wire holding device for gas and other chandeliers, fixtures or supports, by means of which the electric wires maybe supported upon the exteriors of the said fixtures or supports and firmly and permanently retained in correct position thereupon. At the present time electric-wires are either run through the interiors of the chandeliers or fixtures, or they are run along the outside of the same and secured thereto by shellac or other adhesive substance,

and frequently they are wound spirally about said chandeliers or fixtures. When either of these latter methods is used the wire very quickly loosens and becomes slack, and when slack, the wire is not only liable to injury, but also presents a very unsightly appearance.

In accordance with this my present invention, I provide the fixture with a series of detachable wire-holding devices each of which consists of a loop-like clip adapted to embrace the chandelier or other fixture to which the wire is to be secured, each clip being provided with a wire holding eye through which the wire or wires to be secured is or are passed, the wire or wires being run along from clip to clip through the eyes thereof, and thus retained in proper position. The legs of the clips are sufficiently flexible to permit them to be readily applied to and removed from the fixture, yet they preferably possess sufficient resiliency to retain the clip and the wire or wires in proper position upon the fixture.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents, in elevation, an ordinary form of bracket fixture to which an insulated electric wire is attached in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of one of the holding devices in place, the fixture being shown in section. Figs. 3, 4L and 5, are modifications to be referred to.

Referring to the drawings, A represents any usual or suitable light fixture, chandelier or bracket, along the exterior of which it is desired to run an insulated electric wire or wires to the light, as B, supported at the outer free end of the said fixture.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, my improved holding device in the form shown consists of a preferably metallic wire holding eye a, from which extend in opposite directionsthe curved preferably spring legs a forming a loop-like clip, open at the bottom at a and adapted to be placed or sprung upon the fixture A, as shown,the legs of the clip being readilyopened to pass about and embrace the fixture.

As many of these clips or holding devices are applied to the fixture as are necessary to retain the wire 0 in proper position, said wire being run along through the eyes of the several holding devices, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is frequently desirable to protect the insulated wire from injury, and to provide such protection I have in Figs. 4 and 5 shown the holding device provided with a section of thin tubing 12 which maybe of metal or insulating material, said tubing being preferably placed within the eye a formed upon the clip of the device, although said tube may be soldered or otherwise secured to the clip itself, in which case the tube would take the place of the eye. The tubes 1) are of such length. that when several of the holding devices are applied to a fixture the ends of the tubes of adjacent holding devices will abut end to end to form a substantially continuous protecting tube extending along the fixture through which the electric wire may be run.

Referring to Fig. 5 I have shown the two legs of the clip as located in difierent angular planes, as shown by full and dotted lines, one leg extending angularly in one direction, while the other extends an gularly in an opposite direction. The reason for this is as follows, vizz-As in Fig. 5 the two legs spread apart in opposite directions along the fixture and retain the device in proper fixed position. When, however, it is desired to place the holding device upon a fixture of larger diameter, the free ends of the legs of the clip are sprung toward each other to lie more nearly in the same plane, to thereby enlarge the diameter ICC of the opening between the same to fit the larger fixture to which it is to be applied. Of course, the greater the angle between the planes of the two legs the smaller will be the fixture which may be passed through the clip, and as the legs are drawn more nearly into the same plane they will likewise accommodate proportionately larger fixtures.

If desired, the legs of the clip may be made of sufficient length to be passed under the fixture and given one or more twists, as shown at a in dotted lines Fig. 2, to thus positively retain the devices in proper position upon the fixture in addition to the normal spring action of the legs.

The devices maybe formed in any suitable manner, the eye and legs of the clip being, however, preferably formed from a single strip of flattened wire, as in Figs. 1 to 3, the eye thus presenting a tubular form although round or other form of strip or wire may be used if desired.

In Fig. 4, the eye a is sufficiently large to permit the tube to rest' upon the fixture.

While I prefer to form the eye to present as nearly as possible a complete circle, yet it may, of course, be more or less open at the bottom, so long as an eye is presented through which the electric-wire may be passed.

In Fig. 3 the wire holding eye is made elongated to receive two wires laid side by side and the said eye may be made of any other desired size or shape to fit the particular purpose to which the holding device is to be aplied.

p In Fig. 3, I have also shown the interior faces of the legs of the clips as covered or coated with insulation n to insulate the holding device from the fixture or support to which it is attached.

The invention is not li mited to the particular shape or construction of device herein shown, as the same may be varied without departin from the scope of the invention.

I clain1- l. The herein described electric-wire holding device, consisting of a detachable loop-like clip adapted to embrace the support, and provided with a wire-holding eye through which an electric Wire may be passed and thereby secured to said fixture, substantially as described.

2. The herein described detachable wire holding device, consisting of a wire holding tubular eye, and two holding legs therefor adapted to embrace a fixture to which it is desired the tubular eye shall be attached, the electric wire being extended through said eye, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CORNELIUS BEARD.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK L. EMERY, JOHN C. EDWARDS. 

